Hat stretcher and former



Nov. 26, 1946.

L. D. MURRAY ET AL HAT STRETCHER AND FORMER Filed Sept. 22, 19-'45 i t l M /2 M1 /5 L /A & Z L AW 1- 1 i a I A INVENTORS L. D. MURRAYj Patented Nov. 26, 1946 UNETE HAT STRETCHER AND FORMER Loyd D. Murray and Frank M. Gallo, San Francisco, Calif.

Application September 22, 1945, Serial No. 617,950

1 Claim. 1.

This invention relates to improvements in appliances for stretching and forming hats into shape, particularly hats of the military type.

The principal object of the invention is the employment of adjustable means whereby the body portion and the hat band thereof can be quickly and positively conformed to the desired shape.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the appliance positioned within a hat of the military type, the body of the hat, the band, and the visor being shown in dotted line.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numerals 3-and 4 indicate a pair of wooden segments, each of which is apertured to provide spaced radial openings 5. It will be noted that the inner ends of each segment are grooved as at 6 and are inwardly tapered as at l. The said ends in operative position are spaced one from the other and are capable of receiving therebetween a wedge block 8 and a wedge block 9. It will be observed that each of said blocks has an opening 10 therein and is tapered inwardly as at H, and is likewise equipped with ribs or tongues I2 adapted to be received in the grooves 6 of each of the segments. The construction above recited serves as the medium for stretching the body of the hat, and the position of the Wedges relative to the segments when initiating the stretching operation, is disclosed to advantage in Fig. 1.

To obtain the maximum stretching operation the wedges are forced outwardly toward the peripheral edge of the hat body A. It is obvious that intermediate degrees of stretching or forming can be readily obtained by actuating the To further add to the serviceability of the appliance a pair of semi-circular metal bands are employed. These bands are indicated by the numerals i3 and M, and are each provided with spaced slotted lugs l5 that are formed at right angles to the bands. Fastening elements such as screws [6 serve to detachably secure the lugs to the top surfaces of the segments. The'said metallic bands function to stretch the hat band portion B and to shape the same during the hat cleaning operation. By virtue of the adjustable relationship of the screws to the slotted lugs the said semi-circular bands l3 and Hi can be readily adjusted to compensate for varying sizes of hat bands.

In the operation of the appliance, the hat to be shaped and formed is first-placed in an inverted position on a table or like support. One of the segments is positioned within the hat on one side thereof and because of its arcuate construction will readily conform to the shape of the hat. The other segment is then positioned within the hat on the opposite side thereof. The wedges are then moved inwardly with the tongues I I positioned within the grooves 6, until the desired stretching and forming operation has been realized. Simultaneously the outer peripheries of the metal bands I3 and M will be in contact with the inner peripheries of the hat band B.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing it Y will be obvious that we have devised a, simplified Wedges between the spaced ends of the segments to suit the condition that arises. The tongue and groove connections employed will readily hold the appliance in the desired position, without danger of accidental displacement thereof,

appliance that will readily carry out the objects of the invention.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim. Having thus described our invention, we claim: An appliance comprising a pair of segmental members having inner grooved tapered ends, a pair of tapered wedges interposed between said members, said wedges having tongues receivable in the grooved ends of said segmental members and capable of expanding the latter to shape and form the body portion of a hat, and a pair of semi-circular bands secured to said segmental members and adapted to contact the band of a hat in which said segmental members and said wedges are positioned.

'LOYD D. MURRAY.

FRANK GALLO. 

